Sarge6870

For us, it was an excursion we found (self-excursion) to Paradise Beach in Cozumel. I did a bit of research prior to the May cruise when I found them. They stayed in touch with me VIA email pre AND post Cruise. Chrissy and I are beach bums and Paradise was SOO relaxing and accommodating. Can't wait to be there in a little over 2 weeks :)

Were up next on the Brilliance Jan. November 16th. Look for my feedback when we return :)

"Tomorrow is not promised and we should not "expect" to even see the next hour, for it's never promised. Laugh more. Smile bigger. Love like you mean it." And YOU Shon are an icon of this statement! In most situations I would look to put the blame, but at 6 years old, all I can feel is that God had and always has a plan. We lost our daughter at 10 minutes old (not a mis-print) so I most certainly relate to the loss of a child. This child is a saint now with no faults in God's eyes. May God pour his blessings and comfort on the parents of this child, for they truly need it.

OOOH...You know I'm on the Brilliance in November Jan...FEED ME!!!!!! I watched you dock in Halifax this morning VIA the cruise ship cams link (from the bridge of the AIDAbella). Looked a bit foggy. How are the updates to the ship? Hope your having a BRILLIANT time!!!

You da' man as always Shon!! Quick question, Where is the Pride moving to? Sailed her a few years ago and loved the ship.

We like to keep our carry-on stuff to a minimal since we arrive at the port early and can't access our cabin for a few hours. BUT, we take all items of value with us. A change of clothes, like swimwear, sunscreen and any electronics we bring onboard that may become "missing" in transit otherwise! After hearing all the stories of how airport baggage handlers were stealing items from passengers luggage, I came to the conclusion the "behind the scenes" handlers at the ports can do the same. Remember, safety FIRST!!

I know how much trouble "assuming" can get me into but I read into it a bit. If it was in carry on, you and many others would be standing around and you would be watching what happens to your bags when it goes through the X-Ray machine. Good chance you would see a security guard open your bag when it exits the machine since he's right there in front of you. Now if it was in check-in baggage, you never see the guards that scan your bags because that happens behind the scenes. Very easy for them to open and remove items from your baggage without your knowledge. When I cruise, I put a zip-tie through the 2 tiny holes on the zipper so security can cut it if they feel a need to open it but it also allows me to see they cut it and opened it. If that happens, then I check my stuff in that bag closely to see that all my items are there!

Don't think I would base my decision to cruise the Titanic II on the test of a wooden model. I don't care how test specific their lab thinks they are when testing the wooden model to see how the real ship would withstand the ACTUAL ocean. The sea is a very unpredictable body.

Not that it justifies what the guards did but WHY would you put your iPad in check-in baggage to begin with? Might as well put your wallet in there too if you think that way!!! Just sayin'........

Step 3 of 5 of the "Parbuckling Project" has been successfully completed. The vessel is now upright, sitting on the artificial bed made to support the operation. Click here to follow the progress... http://theparbucklingproject.com/article/45/Parbuckling_phase_-_update_on_the_beginning_of_operations

This was originally owned and operated by Carnival as the "Jubilee" before being sold in (I think) 2004.

Welcome to CruiseCrazies luci!!! You have come to the right place for ANYTHING cruise related. First off, as a resident of Tampa, let me tell you that your cruise is going to start off with a bang when you experience how easy the boarding goes at the port of Tampa. We cruised on the Jewel of the Seas this past May and were onboard (from the time we walked into the check-in area to the gangway) in 10 minutes FLAT!! The other great thing is it takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of sailing the channel leading to the ocean with a great sailing under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. I always love long sailings up the canals on embarkation day so I can wave at those on the shore and try to muster up a tear for them seeing to how I'm on a cruise and they are NOT!!! Back in May, when we visited Cozumel, I did an online chat in our "Cruise Chat Live" room from beautiful Paradise Beach. I followed that up with a video of my beach day there. Truly a wonderful place and when you navigate to some of the pages here on the site, you will see their banner advertisement to the left. You can click there to be taken directly to their website. Did I mention they are ALSO a member here? To see my video of Paradise Beach in Cozumel, click here...... http://www.cruisecrazies.com/forums/topic/49042-paradise-beach-video-interview-on-day-of-the-live-chat-542013/ If you do decide to visit Paradise Beach, make sure you ask for Krista or Meemo (they are managers there) and tell them you are a "CruiseCrazies" member. They will take good care of you Feel free to ask me anything about the beach you like, I'm always willing to talk CRUISE!!!!!

Ok then Shon, I have 5 Carnival placemat pics hanging on my "I Love Me" wall (that's 2 walls I have in my computer room/office where 1 wall is of my military pics and awards and 1 wall of my civilian awards like the one from the City of New York and of the placemats that were given out on the last night of some of our Carnival cruises). The picture placemats I have framed are of the Carnival Celebration, the Ecstasy, the Triumph and the Pride. I also have one my brother gave me before he passed away in 2010 of the Miracle. After our cruise on the Pride is when it seemed they stopped giving out the picture placemats. Wish they still had those :(

The good thing about thrift stores Shon is you can buy brand new stuff there as well. On the other side of the coin, I haven't really looked for cruise items when I shop at the thrift stores near me but it's a good idea. I have sold cruise stuff I had an abundance of at garage sales I had (like those plastic DOD glasses where I had multiple duplicates of but saved the REAL glass one's for me). I have my fair share of TEE's too from past cruises but my favorite collectors items is the pictures of the ship Carnival used to give out on the last night of the cruise but don't anymore. I also collect the models of the ships that the lines sell in their onboard shops. Sorry, getting off topic here......

This story reminds me of our recent sailing on the Jewel. There was a woman carrying a small dog onboard with her. We saw this woman with the dog throughout the cruise. The woman didn't seem to have any disabilities and the dog was not wearing and indecia identifying it as a "Guide Dog" or anything like that. My wife did over hear the woman tell another passenger that she brought the dog along as "treatment" for severe "emotional distress" and it was prescribed and approved by Royal Caribbean. Never heard of anything like THAT before!!!!

The ironic, and in my eyes hypocritical approach here is that the lines that are to begin enforcing these new rules, will continue to sell the suitcases of cigarettes in their onboard shops!! Some lines are also including the electronic cigarettes in their new rules. These electronic cigarettes emit absolutely NO toxic chemicals into the air. Yes, I am a smoker and yes, I do respect everyone's right to not have to be intruded upon by my smoke. Yes, the lines do have a right to institute any rules they like, it's their ship, were just visiting. I just find it amusing that no one seems to be raising a flag on the unruly drunks onboard that seem to intrude more on their fellow passengers than my smoking on my balcony!!! Just IMHO.......

...and if I could add one more thing (as I always seem to do to your posts Jan, sorry), When you are on a cruise, and your camera be it a still or video has been in the cabin or inside the ship for awhile, and you are in a port that is hot and/or humid, allow your device to reach the outside temperature before shooting. If you don't you'll wind up with foggy shots from the condensation that forms on the lens or your camera may just not operate at all due to a "Dew" safety feature. Also, it could damage your device if too much condensation builds up seeing to how most newer cameras are infused with many electronic components. My trick, if you have a balcony cabin and are planning shooting at a port the next day, leave your device in the carrier or bag it came in on the balcony overnight until you leave the next day. You can also save the desiccant packs that come in the box with most devices today. The packs are those little envelopes that are in the box that say "Do not eat"!! Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way and ruined a video camera that I had used only twice.

I think this story is overly dramatic. It only took about 2 months after the Triumph INCIDENT for Carnival to announce they were going to invest seriously in upgrading their vessels. BUT, how many of the other cruise lines have jumped onboard with Carnivals idea to upgrade? I haven't heard of one line!!! ALL cruiselines pinch pennies when building ships, not just Carnival yet they are the only one's upgrading. This is the first year we will actually be cruising twice in the same year in our past 9 cruises and the Carnival INCIDENT didn't cause us to change our mind on cruising. I agree with mach on the "newbies" or what I call the "NObies" (those that will never take a cruise) that base their opinion on a few small incidents over-reported by the media. Cruising is still one of the most safest and inexpensive forms of vacation you can find ANYWHERE!!! Just ask those that have perished in plane crashes..........

You know, there are "shorts" that can be considered "business casual" attire. Just ask any Bermudian! I remember being docked in Hamilton, Bermuda years ago and staring in amazement as I watched businessmen, dressed in shirts with ties, black business shoes and sporting very classy looking Bermuda shorts. These shorts were knee high and looked like normal business type pants that were cut to the knee. They were not insulting to the rest of the attire at all. I feel that shorts like these would be acceptable. I still agree that tank-tops and swim suits should still be banned. If you want to impress someone by your looks and want to dress that way for meals onboard, feel free to do it topside at the buffet!!! JMHO..........

I agree with ya Shon!!! She dropped the ball. She called for them twice and they didn't respond. As soon as your fams name was called, they lost their time to stage it. YOU should have been allowed to perform and the other group should have been told to take a "long walk off a short pier" (once you ported that is, sorry...had to go there)!!!

VERY NICE!!!! Fill us in when you get back and have a great time!!!

I'm glad to hear about this! Making Tampa a local port for me, it gives me more options. Other than Tampa, the closest port to me would be Port Canaveral which is a 3 hour drive to get to. I could never understand why more ships don't sail from Tampa. The Port of Tampa has the ability to allow ships to visit both the Western & Eastern Caribbean.

LMAO!!! Pass the Kleenex!!! Your KILLIN' me!!! :D